Assobting machine



Dec. 4, 1928.

F. J. COOK- ASSORTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. "4, 1928.

F, J. COOK AssoRTINe MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 4; 1925 2 1 t 3 .QNA

. 0h .3 3 Wm Reissued Dec. 4, 1928.

()FFICE.

FLOYD J. COOK, OF MEDFORD, OREGON.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

Original No. 1.646 951, dated October 25, 1927, Serial No. 48,073, filed August 4, 1925 Application for reissue filed September 19, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in assorting machines, and more particularly to fruit and vegetable grading or sizing apparatus.

l lleretofore, it has been customary to provide means for separating thefruit as it passes through the grading machine by varying the width of the slots through which the fruit is piloted. While such devices have been found satisfactory for grading round shaped fruits and-vegetables, they are not cilicient in assorting irregularly shaped fruits, such as pears or the like. i

A primary object of the invention is to provide means for efficiently assorting and grading all kinds of fruits and vegetables, irrespective of their particular shape or configuration, and consists in attaching a flexible .apron or the like to the adjacent sides of the conveyors so as to extend into the slots or runways of the machine, and thus cause the fruit or vegetable delivered thereto, to ride smoothly on the flexible apron until it comes to a slot or runway of the appropriate size where its journey ends, andit is dropped into a suitable receptacle, from which it may be conveniently removed.

A further object of 'juring the fruit, as it its-conducted through the machine, Additionally, thesizingsection belowfthe conveyors is provided with grading bars adj ustably connected to the the width of the runways to seeframe to vary lect'i'vely assort the fruit.

Referring-to the drawing, wherein is shown a preferred'embo-dimentof the invention'zf.

which is supported by the legs and the brac'lze'zts 12. EXten'din'g longitudlnallyof the invention consists in dividing a grading-machine lnto a sorting Fig. 1 is a, side elevation of the-assorting Serial No. 309,986.

the frame and suit-ably connected thereto are a series of spaced members 13, 14 and 15,

preferably three in number, which are arranged n such a manner as to form a sorting section 16 and a sizing section 17. The openings or slots 18 and 19 formed between the members 13, 14. and 15, respectively, of the sorting section 1.6, Fig. 3, are of uniform and fixed width, and less in size than the diameter of-the smallest fruit or vegetable which it may be desired to grade. openings 20. and 21 in the 'sizingsection 17,

' laterallyrelative tothelmember 14, and thus regulate the width of theopenings 20 and 21, respectively.

A series of-endless conveyors in the form of belts 25, 26 and 27 pass over the surface of the machine and engage thepulleys 28 and 29 keyed to the shafts 30 and 31, which shafts are journalled in thebrackets'82, secured to the opposite ends of the members 16and 17-, respectively, by the bolts 33. The conveyors are preferably driven by a pulley 3a connected to one end of the shaft-30 and arranged to The Width of the be driven by abelt 35 connected to a motor or the like, not shown. i

The bolts 25, 26-.and 27 have connected to their margin'al edges'fiexible aprons or-the" like 36,-in-anysiiitable manner-,such as by the stitching 37. These-aprons eXtend the entire length of each belt and are ofsufli'cient -'width to overlie the adjacent-sides of the members 13, 14: and 15 and project into the:

slots orriinways 18 and 19; In orderrthat the belts may pass 'over-thesframe smoothly" and evenly, 'WlfillOlllJ danger of getting out of.-

alignment, the members 13, 1 1 and 15- at the delivery-end of the frame, and the central men'u'loer 14; throughout its length, are provided with recesses 38 in their upper surface,

which receive the belts and act as guides for them when the machine is in operation. One of the main featuresof my invention consists-inproviding means for effecting considerable number of gradings of fruit or vegetable within the lin iitsimposed by thelength of the machine. -Tl11S feature is im-- poi-tent since it increases n'interielly, and (lesirnbly tl'ieicapeeityof my.invention;= in! other words, it enables a single-m-achine -to effect the same number of grz-idings as pre viously required several machines to do., The said feature of my n'nichine is attained by making one of the grading elements thereof to consist of a, number of relatively short grinding, bars, (sec: the-patent dnawings Figs. 2 and 4) arranged endi to endl lengths Wise oi the machine in steps relatively to a coopenavtizng grinding 1Y1Q D1li0f =PIQSGHtGl-lh the i nztme tinembeu l4=o'li'the machine,- and 5 consisting of a. continuous bar extendingleng'thwise of the machine; the said short grndingbiu's being mounted ton independent late-rel:adjustmenton the frame members 13 and 15 extending in parallel relation with snidzcontinuous grading element 14. The openings thus formed-between the cont-inir ous grading element M and the said short-- griad'ing bars- 22 respectively, serve as run ways, the width'of which increases in steps progressively with,end acco-rding b05111? od justnlent ofzssaid 'short'grading bars; and thusas many ,grndings of tlae fruit or; vegetable mny bermndeias there are grading'bars 22provid'edein =the length of my maehine;

It'willibe notedithat inithe sizing section 17 of -the. -frame,- tlieconveyor belts 25 and 27 pass over :the top. of; :the grading b ers .22 so as to permit the letter-to be adjusted relative to the member l l to vary the Width of-theopenings .20; and 21,- as maybe :desired, without: interfering with thetcourseofithe movement; oi said conveyor belts 25 and27. Fure thermore, the openings 18, 19,-. 20 and' 121-? formedobetweenzthe members-13,114 and15 I act as runways-fondle:flxiblenprens 3(i du1e ing thegrnding operation; v

The fruit; or megeta-ble 691w. be. asserted is emptied; on an inclinedi hopper. 40 positioned:- K atnthe; deliveryendi :O-f) the-frame 10,1 and :is manually conducted to the slots v:18 -andr219 folmed innthe sorting section ofthez-flmne, Where-lit is; piloted by, the flexible aprons to; the slots 2.0:and 21' and the grading; bars 22. The opemtiomof the device isns-follows-z "As-the. belts 25526 and 210i the. conveyon move at a-.-unifo..rm reteof. spflfl dlinlthflidiile tion; on the -ar1.0w,..as shown in Figzrlyithev flexihlemprons 36 i zoom-meted to;- the: belts re cei viewthe fnnit or vegetable 39.: from-.ithc; hoppem 40: and conduct; 1 then -same-past the openings lSmnd; 19ft!) 'the nnnwe-ys 2Qiand 21sv of thevsizing or gravclingl-sectionzlfl., -llheo e-1;

- 'eretor,1preterebly .standszbesidethe hopper;-

wvhi'shhe-eonsiders shoulda'not lie-graded and 21, falls into suitable containers or bins 41, positioned beneath their-n ne 10, Fig. l, fI'OHL- which -itmay be conveniently removed.

Assuming my, machine to be made for double capacity as it were, as shown in the dlffiwingsg thnt is to sny, for grading two lines of fruit or vegetables simultaneously, as providedirt'or by the central-5gradingonezw her Min-cooperation with the ironic members 13 and 15, on which n'iy said short grading bnrs22 are mounted, it Wlll be'seen't lmtthe width of the openings 20'und 21 otthe runway-s maybe-s0regulated by the proper ndjustment of said grading; bars 22, that thesmne sized innit, or vegetable,-cnn=lie-deposite'd in two er -more consecutive receptacles located below the runways; since the -slight difference in width between the opening 26' and the opening 21', inadvertently:made-inthe adjustment. otncorresponding gr nding bars :mennted on the frame members 13 and i 15', would' be; negligible in prnctionlzoperationi Furthermore, the fiexiblenpron 36383-11568 the frnit orNQgetnbIe beingassorted. toiride along smoothlynuntiil it reaches-openings in. the slots QOHUdiQl Wideenoughto permit it: to-pz ss therethrough: It? will be seenthat. by reason of this particulan constrnction, irregu.-. larly shaped tnnits onvegetahles, such. as the long-nosedv Bose,- B'nntlett or Gomice pears, m'zty'be accurately ESGPRHatQdE and; graded While I havedisclosed the, inventioni adapted for use: in grading frnit end; :vege tables-it. is. to bGiHIldQlStO'Od-Illflt the/device, isneqnelly applicable. ton-separating "and, sortinglother articlenvandithat such changes as fall within the PUIVlQlVIOfE one skilled-n1) the ant: may be made without; departing from the inventionnandiiscope of the appended claims.

I elairm;

]i: A- gnading machineoftheelzss described; comipnising av frame having; longitudinally extending spaced membersthe sloits b tween! 5110 the members -formingenunweys fora gradi g: the anticlespossing through-the machine, said; frame beingdivided finto a; Sorting section I andi'azsizing section, iguidi' grooves fomnedin '1 the upper surface of theimembers n h 11 115 ing section a series ofi'longitudinally spaced grading bars-eonneotedito seids zii gg eQt O a i, means for selectively and independently ad -5 j sei d1 :gradiHg-jbail3 to wary. the width of the runways, endless conveyors eX-tendingmm through the greoves 5 in thesorting section and shame I Said: gin/ding: ben y: h bars may ibcnmoved 'ilatemlly Without alieetw g: the: movement at vthe i onveyorsi flexible aprons connected to the 1 sides, oi ,seid cons 125 veyo-rs end pmj eeting into the runways, and means ion dri ing said eonveyors In: a: greding meehine oh the. olass d mscribed, the combination ot n: tra1ne.c0mpris-- ing spaced longitud nal members, a; Seriesof i independent relatively short grading bars, to vary the width of the said runway relaarranged end to end, longitudinally, carried tively to each of the said bars, and conveyors by one of said members and adjustable, inextending into the runway space. -5 dependently, relatively to the other of said 5. In a grading machine of the class de- 5 members to form therewith a runway space scribed, the combination of a trame comprisprogressively enlarged in steps and means ing, spared long idinal members, a series of for selectively and independently adjusting indepernlent relatively short grading bars, said grading liars laterally on the said frame arranged end to end, longitudinally, carried member, to vary the width of the said runway by one of said i'i'ien'ibers and adjustable, inrelatively to each. of the said bars, and an dependently, relatively to the other of said endless conveyor extending at all times into members to form therewith a runway space the runway space. progressively enlarged in steps, means for 2-3. in a grading machine of the class deseleciivcly and independently adjusting said scribed, the con'ihination of a frame comprisgrading bars laterally on the said frame meming spaced long-itu linal members, a series of her, to vary the width of the said runway independent relatively short grading bars, relatively to each of the said bars and endless arranged end to end, longitudinally, carried com yors lying substantially in the same by one of said members and adjustable, inhorizontal plane and extending into the rundependently, relatively to the other of said way, one thereof extendingo'rer said grading members to term therewith a runway space bars, whereby s, l grading bars may be progressively enltufged in steps, means for moved laterally without affecting the longiselectivcly and independently adjusting said tudinal course of the conveyor. grading bars laterally on the said frame mem- (3. in a grading niiachine of the class deher, to vary the width of the said runway scribed, the cen'ibination of a frame comprisrelatively to each of the said bars and endless ing spaced longitudinal meniibers, a series of conveyors extending at all times into said independent relatively short grading bars, runway, one thereof extending over said arranged end to end, longitudinally, carried grading bars, whereby said grading bars may by one of said. members and adjustable, in he moved laterally without affecting the lon depi'inrlently, relatively to the other of said gitudinal course of the conveyor. members to form therewith a runway space 4. In a grading machine of the class deprogr. Ivcly enlarged in steps, means for scribed, the combination of a frame cemprisselectively and independently adjusting said ing spaced longitudinal members, a series of grading bars laterally on the said frame memindependent relatively short grading bars, her, to vary the width of the said runway arranged end. to end, longitudinally, carried r latively to each of the said bars, endless by one of said members and adjustable, indeconveyors, and flexible aprons carried by said pendently, relatively to the other of said conveyors and overlying,' and pro ecting into members to form therewith a runway space said runway, one of said conveyorsextend ng progressively enlarged in steps and means over said grading bars, whereby sald grading connected to each end of each grading bar I bars may be moved laterally without affectfor selectively and independently adjusting ing the longitudinal course of the conveyor. the same laterally on the said frame member, FLOYD J. COOK. 

